Should I talk a friend out of lobster diving

[eelnoraa]

I recently met a old friend. He got certified in Thailand long time ago and has stop diving for 3 years. He wants to sign up for a Catalina Island lobster diving trip, and he wants me to go as his buddy. Looking at the trip detail, all dives are night dives. Lobster dive depth usually is at the recreation dive limit. I don't feel confident about this combination. What do you guys think? Am I too conservative? How should I talk him out of it without sounds offense?

 

[aceupmysleeve777]

Hmmm this is a tough one. Sounds like he won't want to do a tuneup. California diving can bring divers rustyness and lack of skill and experience to a head very fast. If you want to dive with him on the trip but just want to make sure he's good to go, setup a easy dive for the two of you before the trip.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I agree with aceupmysleeve777. If your buddy isn't willing to do any type of refresher, do a few easy dives with him to personally assess his skills before you commit to anything. That way, there's no personal offense because you're both just doing fun dives. Maybe even do an easy night dive afterwards.

Also, for a few of the dives, mention that you always like to practice skills so that they don't get rusty, and practice a few with your buddy. Be a good buddy, communicate, and plan the dives well.

If after all of this, you still don't feel confident about him, don't go with him. But by then, your buddy will be able to see his own skills/comfort and might change his mind himself.

Just wondering, does he have any night dive experience or training?

 

[Searcaigh]

I would not want to be doing any night dive with somebody who has not dived recently.

Why not ask him to do a shallow dive to brush off the cobwebs first, and if he refuses then you have reasonable grounds to not be offended by not going on the lobster trip.

 

[knotical]

Echoing the others. Perhaps something like: “Look, we’ve never dived together before, and this set of dives is at the recreational depth limits and at night. Why don’t we first do a few less aggressive dives and work on our buddy skills / situational awareness as a team?“

Remember the ABCs of diving: “Always Be Comfortable”. If you’re not comfortable, don’t do it.

 

[undrwater]

Lobster dives also tend to be solo dives. Even if you choose to watch your buddy, you will effectively be diving solo as well. Take that into consideration.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Diving aside, you are required to carry a lobster gauge and take lobsters only by hand. You also need a valid California fishing license with an ocean enhancement stamp plus a lobster report card. Now add in the cost of the trip and you would be better off buying lobsters at the local grocery store. I would suggest a day dive in an area where lobster take is legal to get used to diving and hunting first.

 

[EastEndDiver]

I recently met a old friend. He got certified in Thailand long time ago and has stop diving for 3 years. He wants to sign up for a Catalina Island lobster diving trip, and he wants me to go as his buddy. Looking at the trip detail, all dives are night dives. Lobster dive depth usually is at the recreation dive limit. I don't feel confident about this combination. What do you guys think? Am I too conservative? How should I talk him out of it without sounds offense?

I think the part of your post that I underlined makes me think you already know the answer to your question.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Night, deep, and hunting (major task loading). I would say NO WAY. I would want to have significant experience with at least two out of those three dive types before combining them.

 

[eelnoraa]

... the cost of the trip and you would be better off buying lobsters at the local grocery store. I would suggest a day dive in an area where lobster take is legal to get used to diving and hunting first.

I totally agree here. I dn't believe he wants to do because of the lobster. In fact, I did offer to buy him a lobster and do a dive withe me at Breakwater since he hasn't been diving for so long, but he refused. He want to do boat dive instead. Hmm. I think I am quite conservative when it come to diving. But I am not going to make a change.